Massive delights: 5 largest cricket stadiums in the world
It might not be a living creature or an animate being, but every cricket ground has its vibe and aura. There are millions of memories attached to some, and there are specific players associated with some. The mind inevitably leads to Sachin Tendulkar’s 143 against Australia as soon as Sharjah is mentioned. Adelaide’s mention will always remind an Indian cricket nut of the twin centuries of Virat Kohli soon after he took over the baton of captaincy from MS Dhoni.
Eden Gardens’ mention cannot go without the unbelievable antics of VVS Laxman against Aussies and come to associate a player with a specific ground and the Eden Gardens and Rohit Sharma will make a perfect combination. There are hundreds of such stadiums, some small, some big, some scenic, some gigantic. Let us, then, take a look at 5 of the most massive ones on Earth!
5. Optus Cricket Stadium – Perth, Australia
The Optus cricket stadium, located in Australia, is the second stadium to be built in Perth, with the first one being the famous WACA Ground. With a seating capacity of 60,000, the Optus cricket stadium bags the fifth spot on the list. The stadium hosted its first international match in the year 2018 when Australia thrashed India by 146 runs in a Test. It has so far hosted 2 Tests, 2 ODIs, and 1 T20I.
4. Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Cricket Stadium – Chhattisgarh, India
Situated in Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, with a capacity of 65,000, is India’s third-largest venue, whereas fourth largest overall. Inaugurated in 2008, and the first-ever encounter at the venue was between the Canadian national cricket team and the Chhattisgarh side. Though the stadium has not hosted an international match thus far, it is a promising contender in the times to come.
3. Eden Gardens – Kolkata, India
Classic photo: A view of Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata during the #cwc 1987 final Australia vs. England pic.twitter.com/xv7Mp2HmL6
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) April 8, 2013
Renowned as one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata is India’s second-largest cricket ground, with a seating capacity of 80,000. In a rather glorious past, there have been truckloads of memorable cricketing moments that have unfurled at the venue, including the famous Test between India and Australia in the year 2001 and Rohit Sharma’s 264 versus Sri Lanka.
2. Melbourne Cricket Ground – Melbourne, Australia
The picturesque Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a historic venue of cricket. The MCG hosted the first-ever international match in the year 1877 between Australia and England. For over 150 years, it has hosted many renowned tournaments, including the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and 1992 and 2015 Cricket World Cup tournaments. With a staggering capacity of 100,024, it comes second on the list.
1. Sardar Patel Stadium – Gujarat, India
Can’t wait for Sardar Patel Stadium to host a match. ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/CF2wV4Zu8C
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 5, 2020
Spread across 63 acres, the biggest cricket stadium in the world in Motera, Gujarat, will soon be unveiled by India. Once operational, the newly-renovated Sardar Patel Stadium will overtake the Melbourne Cricket Ground in terms of seating capacity as it will brag a mind-boggling capacity of 110,000. Before the renovation, the capacity of the stadium was merely 54000.
